Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-12-13

with the rfieciion that none couid kno"
b, tier than himself the true s,Aie OF the
case, AMI sndr r.vorsd to s,itl, his mi'giv-
Ing. by a,iribuling Mr.. Biitebone's 10.
nusndoss to envy and isnoEanee min-
sled With Jealousy.
Although Augustus duly announced
HI. engagement TO bis friends. be did not
fJr soms time mention Il 20 his fellow
student. ~ Mr.. R,,siners ehsmber.
he in.,ine,ively guessed that Mr. Re.
tAiter would suspect how the even, had
come about. ard therefore. 20 avoid un-
| plesssn,ts.. he deemed |, prudent to
bold bic tongue. Bat shr awhile the
news leaked out. a. an news will and
~L,n Augustus wss. one morning. re.
quts,ed to 70 into Mr. Rs,siasrs room.
be had . preseniim,n, Of what VI. In
store.
Good morning. Mr.. Nay" ssid Mr..
Retainer. very nlfiiy. 81 have sent Tor
you TO s,k II !, be true. - hear. that
you ATE engaged 10 be married.
"Yc. cir; It Is tue" said Augustus
dshsnily.
"of e0upe. I have nothing whatever
20 d. With Jour private affairs" resumed
Mr. Retainer "butit has occurred TO me
that I msy BE-. In . measure. innoeenty
is,pon.ible for what has taken place.
II don't understand" said Augustus.
ieddsnlng.
"The youbg lady Is Mi. Smith. !
am ,old-,he daughter Of Mr.. John
smith. Of Hilldrop Crescent. Camden
Town" said Mr.. Retainer mesningly.
"Thst Il correct" admitted Augustus.
"wtosc will was prepared Ia my
chambers few months back. said MI.
Retainer With unpleasant emphasis.
"li was an accidental circumstances.
murmui,d Augustus. avoiding Mr. lie.
isiHsrs gsre.
"Of eoar,e. II though, Tor mo-
men, ,hs, any one 10 my chambers could
be capable Of such . gioss breach OF faith
=. veil ss Of professional etiquette, - TO
take advantage Of professional SECRETS. !
would rrqae.t him TO pa, on bis bat and
leave this moment"
The ,dse, Of thi, speech uPOa Angus
,us va, that he fel, inelined to sneak out
Of the room then aud there. IL VAS e,i.
dent ihA, Mr.. Rs,alnsr's words weie
equivalent TO formal notice to him to
leave. Augustus stood lie grOuad. how.
ever. from sheer desperation.
II quite agree With you. 'ir. he said
shortly.
IL am glad Of fihn." said Mr.. Rs,ain-
u Nth . grave bo~; "your saseiioa for
the young lady" he added. "beins pare
ly disintsr,s,sd. IL 10 hardly. perhaps.
necessary that | shOnld 'sy any more.
Still. to avoid Misunderstanding. you had
better read this
lie handed Augusiu, letter which be
bad been holding open between his M
gers. Ausus,u. took the document with
on, word. and read as follows:
g1s LIScoLSs Inn fixlps.
DElR RETAINER IL wss . colneidsnee.
Il tIl laN ~ 49, '-.-s~
smith myself, and my connieutial clerk
sddrd an s6drr.s-ths nrst that occurred 10
nlm. I know nothing of the Mr. John
Smith you rrler 10, neither does be. IL
Vas an accident. However. DO harm ls
done. Yours vtry uap,
II X TArE.
mo harm |. done. IS Mr.. Tape ssy'.
said Mr.. Retainer. - Augustus, looking
stupidity perplsIsd. handed back the let
ter TO him
IL don, quite understand" murmur,d
Augustus. though be perceived well
enough ths, there had been fatal mis-
take some-here.
"It IL very simple" exclaimed Mr.
Rs,ainer. ~ client Of Mss.r.Tspe *
Pnehmsn,'s-a gentleman ~ell.kno~n
In society. but rather eeeen,rie-gave IN
s,rue,ions for hi, will bu, expressly ask
.d that IL might be drssn under he'i'
,iogs pane. 90 ths, clerks and other per-
sons through who'e hsuds the drsi'
nigh, pass should no, be able 10 ideniif,
him With the ,e.,.,o,. IL was an oil
precau,ion. and must 'sy." added Mr
Retainer. looking severely a, Augustus
"that I thought st the time u Vas a.
most Insulting. However. the result y
,ha, none bu, the confidential clerk ~h'
engrO,.ed the will for signature Is In 'h'
secret"
81 understood you to cay ,ha. yo'
knew oil sbou, the iss,a,or," cried Au
gu,tus. beside himself With ve1s,ion ACC
disappointment
$50 l did. The secret was eonhded u
me-" said Mr.. Retainer. "Hsd yo'
mentioned that you knew Mr.. Johl
Smith OF the address given. l shoul'
have been on my guard. Ba, ycu msis
ly said you knew the adire's.
"I did no, know him q, the time.
blurted Augustus.
lie could have bitten his tongue OF
the instant sfer. for be saw be bad be
,rsyed himself Mr.. Retainer. in avoie
Of thunder. ordered hun out Of the room
ard Augustus. ovsreoms with humilis
ton aud confusion, needed no second bid
ding.
The prevailing sentiment which sgiia
ted the bosom OF Augustus when be cam
TO consider the situation WAS . dee
sense Of having been cruelty wronsed 81
dsceiud. Tie insinus,iors u Mr. B'i,
,l,bone considering Mr.. Smiths eiieum
STAGES bad, ~ We have said. for = lor
time caused him uressirtss. and not
tha, is had u.n,pied that the old ser
lleman was not the owner OF the proPeI
" mentioned In the fatal will. Augusiu
had TO difficulty In convincing himss
, his rivals VERSION IVES correct. Most w
: reasonably be suspected poor Arabsll
aud her relatives Of having attempted
! in,eigle him into ms,rimony by false prs
: tspee., ard in bis viruous indignation B
cid 70, psu,e to consider the injustice (
the charge. Acting upon the impulse {
, The moment. he Immediately wio'e AZ
2 troke ,f the engagement. using 'xpr'
, sions Of wproseh sld h.r,hnss whis
poor Arsbells had done nothing TO d
I ssrve.
Afier this IL Was particularly CALLING
| Augustus to be cOndoled ~i,h for havin
, missed the hand Of IN hsirtss. I, turr
.d out lo~exef uhsn soo late On o. m.